Paediatric trauma & Non-accidental injury
From 2004 to 2013 nearly 15000 children were entered onto the TARN database. 2.5% were the result of assault whilst 5.2% were a result of suspected child abuse.
All clinicians dealing with paediatric trauma need to be aware of this and have a high index of suspicion. Ensure you are familiar with your organisations safeguarding policies - this isn’t someone else’s problem.
From:
Emerg Med J 2015;32:921-925 doi:10.1136/emermed-2015-205285
Davies F, Coats TJ, Fisher R, Lawrence T, Lecky F
Click on the link for full text
- Nearly all of the suspected abuse cases were in the under 5 age group - nearly ¾ in the under 1 year olds.
- The group with suspected abuse had higher overall injury severity scores, a higher proportion of head injury and a threefold higher mortality rate (7.6%).
- The bottom line is that 1 in 20 children with injuries have suffered these injuries as a a result of abuse. The younger the child, the much greater the likelihood.
All clinicians dealing with paediatric trauma need to be aware of this and have a high index of suspicion. Ensure you are familiar with your organisations safeguarding policies - this isn’t someone else’s problem.
From:
Emerg Med J 2015;32:921-925 doi:10.1136/emermed-2015-205285
Davies F, Coats TJ, Fisher R, Lawrence T, Lecky F
Click on the link for full text